Antiskid tread for running boards and the like



Sept. 10, 1940. D. w. HAwKswoR-m 2,214,247

ANTISKID TREAD FOR RUNNING BOARDS AND THE LIKE Filed June 27, 1938 *-%PE:HH/- J 2' -A E DC- INVEI'I TOR DAVID W.HAWK$WOR TH WW A few/2 4 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ANTISKID TREAD FOR RUNNING BOARDS AND .THE LIKE Application June 27, 1938, Serial No. 216,099

2 Claims.

The invention relates to antiskid tread members adapted for various uses, such as railway car running boards, platforms, etc. It is the object of the invention to obtain a construction which can be manufactured at low cost and which will effectively prevent slipping in transverse directions. To this end the invention consists in the construction as hereinafter set forth.

In the drawing:

10 Figure 1 is a plan view of a portion of my improved antiskid tread;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section therethrough;

Figure 3 is a cross section.

Heretofore, treads have been formed from ex- 15 panded sheet metal which forms an open meshwork permitting drainage therethrough of rain and snow. Such constructions will prevent slippage in one direction, viz.: in the direction in which the sheet has been expanded, but in a transo verse direction the surface is quite slippery. This is for the reason that the points of contact are formed by the bond portions of the meshwork which present sharp edges extending transverse to the direction of expansion. Thus, these edges 25 will press into thesole of a shoe to hold it from sliding transversely thereof, but in a direction parallel to these edges there is very little holding effect.

With my improved construction I have over- 0 come the objection just described, by fashioning these bearing portions so that they Will resist sliding movement in either of transverse directions. Preferably, this is accomplished by centrally notchlng the upper faces of the bonds which being the portions of greatest depth will not be weakened by such notching. On the other hand, this notchingwill produce spaced points which bite into the sole of the shoe with the result that it is held from movement longitudinally of the bonds as well as transversely thereof.

In detail, A is the expanded metal sheet having bond portions B which due to expansion are turned into an obliquely inclined position. These bonds form the highest points in the meshwork and present sharp edges C extending longitudinally of the bond or transverse to the direction of expansion. D are notches formed centrally of the upper edge portions of the bonds which form on opposite sides thereof the spaced points E and E. These, as previously described, will bite into the sole of a shoe and prevent slippage, longitudinally as Well as transversely.

The construction as described can be easily manufactured and in use will form an exceedingly effective antiskid tread surface.

What I claim as my invention is: I

1. A tread comprising expanded sheet metal forming an open meshwork with the bonds thereof obliquely inclined to present on their upper surfaces projecting sharp line edges extending transverse to the direction of expansion and raised above the level of the other portions, the line edges of said bonds being notched to render the same antiskid in transverse directions.

2. A tread comprising expanded sheet metal forming an open meshwork with the cross section of the strands thereof obliquely turned to the plane of expansion to present substantially parallel sharp edges projecting upwardly above said plane and forming a transversely antiskid bearing, said sharp edges being serrated to render the same also antiskid longitudinally thereof.

DAVID W. HAWKSWOR'I'H. 

